Heisey back in left field after long layoff

By Jeremy Warnemuende / MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- Since coming off the disabled list June 25, Chris Heisey has started four games as the Reds' designated hitter during their road trip in Oakland and Texas. But on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park, he manned left field for the first time since April 27, when he sustained the right hamstring injury that kept him out of 52 games.

"I haven't been in left field during a game since my rehab assignment, so it's been over a week," Heisey said. "But when you've played out there for the last 10 years of your life, it's not too big of a deal to get back out there. I'm looking forward to getting out there and running around, though."

Heisey was on the DL with a strained right hamstring. Considering the nature of the injury, Reds manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that he would be leery of using Heisey on a rainy day, as any wrong step or slip could tweak it. However, even with rain falling early Wednesday afternoon and chances of it continuing all night, Heisey remained in the starting lineup.

No matter the conditions, Heisey said he felt good and was completely over the injury physically. However, after having multiple rehab assignments delayed because his hamstring wouldn't cooperate, Heisey said he's still dealing with the mental part.

"Honestly, the entire rest of the season it's going to be in the back of my mind, just because of the setbacks I had after I did it the first time and never having a hamstring [injury] before this," Heisey said. "So it's on my mind, but at the same time, the further away I get from it, the more comfortable I'm feeling."

Bailey celebrates quietly after no-hitter

CINCINNATI -- Homer Bailey was a little tired when he came to Great American Ball Park on Wednesday afternoon, but it wasn't because he stayed up all night celebrating his second no-hitter in the last 10 months.

"I got up pretty early this morning to play with my horses," Bailey said. "So no, I didn't get a whole lot of sleep."

The Texas native has two horses, Dot and Billy, that he keeps in Ross, Ohio, about 25 miles away from downtown Cincinnati. Bailey said he kept it low-key Tuesday night as he privately celebrated his accomplishment.

"I got to talk to my dad and my family, and they were just on cloud nine," Bailey said. "But I had to get up early. I just kind of enjoyed it, had a few drinks, listened to some music and tried to relax. I was pretty tired."

By the time he got to the clubhouse Wednesday, Bailey said he had responded to the estimated 200 messages he received in reaction to his no-hitter. The list of notable names to contact him included former teammates Aaron Harang and Laynce Nix, along with Orel Hershiser and one of the pitchers Bailey looked up to as a child: Roger Clemens.

Now working with pitchers in the Astros organization, Clemens said he wanted to show them the video of Bailey's performance and the mechanics he used to no-hit the Giants.

"I said, 'Hey, go ahead. They're not in our division. If you want to, you can,'" Bailey said smiling.

Now, Bailey has to get back into his routine and prepare for his 18th start of the season Sunday against the Mariners. By the time he returns to the mound at Great American Ball Park, he said he has to try to put his no-hitter behind him, as he looks to get back to .500 on the year.

"There's no way I can go into my next one and keep that on my mind," Bailey said. "I'd imagine probably the first guy will get a hit and I'll be done with the whole thing."

Votto nonchalant about no-no saving play

CINCINNATI -- The play that will go down as the one that saved Homer Bailey's no-hitter Tuesday night is one that didn't require much thought.

With one out and a runner on second in the seventh inning, Buster Posey hit a ground ball to first baseman Joey Votto. Bailey was late breaking to the bag, but Votto didn't need him. Instead, Votto threw the ball to third, where Todd Frazier tagged Grego Blanco for the second out of the inning.

"Instincts," Votto said simply when asked about the play, which was ruled a fielder's choice.

On Tuesday, Bailey said he thought he had Posey beat if Votto chose to go to first. Votto, though, knew Blanco would be on the move and was able to get the lead runner and not put the no-hitter in jeopardy.

"Anybody would run [in that situation]," Votto said. "Any ground ball on the right side, you're supposed to run from second to third."

Choo's son ends up in no-no celebration

CINCINNATI -- Before Homer Bailey was showered with a red sports drink after being mobbed by all of his teammates following the last out of his no-hitter Tuesday, he was greeted by Shin-Soo Choo's 8-year-old son, Alan. Bailey gave him a double low-five, and the celebration continued.

Choo said it was special to be able to have his son at Great American Ball Park to witness such an accomplishment, even if it will take time for him to understand its significance.

"He's never going to forget about that in his life," Choo said. "For me, 23 years I've been in baseball, that's the first time I've been playing on a team with a no-hitter."

Worth noting

• Thanks to Bailey's no-hitter and Bronson Arroyo's abbreviated six-inning complete game, Baker hadn't had to go to his bullpen since Sunday.

"Seems like they're either overworked or underworked," Baker said of his relievers. "Very rarely is it perfect."

• Reds prospects Billy Hamilton and pitcher Greg Reynolds have been selected to play in the 26th annual Triple-A All-Star Game. Reynolds, a former No. 2 pick by the Rockies who is 10-0 with a league-leading 2.44 ERA, is expected to start for the International League All-Stars when they take on the Pacific Coast League All-Stars on July 17 in Reno, Nev.

Hamilton, who also has been selected to play in the Futures Game during All-Star Weekend in New York, leads the International League with 49 stolen bases.

Jeremy Warnemuende is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.